Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
VIX - PRESENT
The last two days have flown by. I had been mentally preparing myself to avoid the upcoming dread of my twenty-first birthday.
I used to love my birthday, because it’s also Austin’s.
Over the years, it has become a thing of sadness instead of celebration.
When I turned seventeen, I placed my last wish in the box of butterflies, sending out a plea to the universe for Aussy to come home to me.
When he didn’t, I had decided I would stop giving myself false hope, and bury the tradition along with our other memories.
Waking up this morning, my emotions are all over the place. I’m excited to be spending this day with Austin again, but I’m also reminded of the several birthdays I spent alone, longing for the company of someone who never came. I force a smile, practicing my enthusiasm in the mirror.
“What in the world are you doing?” Leah questions. I shrug like I wasn’t just completely lost in my own head. “Are you excited to go out tonight?” she asks. I sigh.
“Honestly, I’m not really into the whole birthday thing.” I scrunch my nose.
“Oh, no. That’s not going to fly with me.
We’re going out, and we’re going to have a good time.
I don’t care if I have to pour shot after shot down your throat.
Today is the day your soul decided to grace us with its almighty presence, and that, my beautiful friend, is something to celebrate,” she insists. I let out a laugh despite my sour mood.
“It’s Austin’s birthday too, you know,” I remind her.
“Yeah, yeah.” She rolls her eyes. “How could I forget? He’s only reminded us every day for the past week.” I laugh.
He’s been overly persistent with reminding everyone that our birthday is coming up.
I need to shake this feeling of sadness that washes over me every time the subject is brought up.
Especially since today is the day there’s nowhere for me to hide, not from Leah, at least. I’m expected to be full of smiles and excitement.
“We’re just going to Booths again anyway!
” she reassures me. “You love it there, don’t you?
” she asks, and I nod my head in agreement.
I do love dancing, and Booths might be the place to help quiet my demons, even if only for a little while.
Aussy and I are together again on our birthday. What could be better than that?
Our door flies open without a knock or any respect for our privacy. Kash is wearing a birthday hat and throws handfuls of rainbow confetti in the air.
“Happy Birthday, Gremlin!” he shouts, grinning so wide it’s almost scary. I stand there, arms crossed, scowling at him.
“Do you know how long it’s going to take me to clean this up?” Scolding him, I nod to the disaster he just created.
“Ah, don’t worry about it,” he waves a hand, “this is your day, you don’t have to lift a finger. Leah will clean it up for you, won’t you, Lee?” he volunteers.
“Go away, you nuisance.” She throws a pillow at his head.
“As you wish, angry one,” he teases. “I’ve been tasked to let you know we’re going to meet you girls at the pub tonight. We have errands to run beforehand,” he says.
“Errands?” I ask. He pats the top of my head as if I’m a dog.
“Yes, Grem, errands. Adios!” he shouts and then heads out the door, leaving us with a colourful disaster spread wide across our floor.
“Idiot,” Leah mutters, and I shake my head.
“Forget him,” I tell her. “Let’s just get ready. I know you’re dying to show me the new outfit you’re wearing tonight.” Leah’s eyes light up,
“I almost forgot!” She pounces off the bed. “I bought this for you to wear tonight!” she says, handing me a box with a giant pink bow on top. I look from the box to her, not wanting to take it from her hands.
“Don’t look at me like that. I promise it’s not pink and frilly on the inside,” she assures me. I take the box and untie the bow, touching it like it’s going to burn my skin with its bright, girly colours. “You’re so dramatic!” Leah exclaims.
“Says you,” I deadpan and we both laugh. Opening the box, I’m completely stunned by what I see. A lace-over solid black fabric fitted dress lies before me, and my mouth drops open. I pull it out of the box, and I’m stunned at how beautiful it is. Short, yet tasteful.
“I told you it wasn’t pink and frilly.” Leah giggles.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell her in awe of the gift she has given me. Tears fill my eyes. “Thank you, Leah, really, you didn’t have to do this.” She leans in to hug me.
“Oh, but I did, Vixy Poo. If I had to look at you in fishnets, ripped jeans and a cropped top, going out on your birthday celebration night, I would have blown my brains out.” I laugh, knowing she hates my fashion choices. We’re complete opposites, but I love that about us.
“Put it on! I want to see you all dolled up. We need to head out soon anyway,” she tells me, and I wipe away a tear that managed to escape down my cheek.
I nod my head and stand, taking a deep breath, deciding then and there that I’m going to have a fantastic rest of the night.
For the first time in a long time, I’m excited to celebrate my—our birthday.
Booths is busier than usual. Crowds of people scatter across the dance floor, and the energy in the room is electric.
The dress I was gifted fits like a glove, as if it were made just for me, and I’m feeling as confident as ever.
Austin’s eyes have been glued to me from the moment I walked in the door.
A dark hunger lurks behind them, as if I make one wrong move, he’s going to pounce and rip the fabric right off of me.
It’s thrilling, and if it were any other dress, I would likely want him to.
“Will you stop staring? You’re making us uncomfortable.” Leah smacks her brother upside the head, snapping him out of his trance. Kash has also been watching me all night. Something that has Austin feeling territorial, and I’m loving this protective side of him.
The guys head to the bar to order us a round of shots. Our second round of the night so far, and Leah hops over to my side of the bench.
“Soooo…” she starts. “You think tonight is the night?” she asks, waggling her eyebrows.
“Leah!” I exclaim. “We literally just started seeing each other,” I tell her.
“Oh, cut the crap,” she says, “you don’t think I know where you two snuck off to when we were in the pool?” she calls me out, a wicked grin on her face. I purse my lips and avoid her gaze.
“Exactly! Nothing is too fast when it comes to the two of you. Hell, I could feel the sexual tension between you two the moment you first locked eyes on moving day,” she says.
“Yeah, and how awkward was that? He was the guy you were hooking up with, and now you’re asking me when we’re going to have sex.” I laugh, feeling a little embarrassed.
“Girl, it’s college. Everyone hooks up with everyone.
I was just a placeholder—a warm body to keep his mind busy.
I knew nothing would ever come of it. There were no feelings involved.
But this,” she points to me and then to the direction where Aussy stands, “this is meant to be. It’s magnetic, and I would never stand in the way of true love.
I’m a hopeless romantic at heart, you know? ” she says while sipping on her drink.
“I’ve never had a friend like you,” I tell her, and she looks at me, confused.
“A friend like me?” she asks.
“A friend at all is what I meant. I’ve only ever had Austin.
The girls back home didn’t like me. They didn’t know me, but they didn’t like me.
I guess because I dressed differently, or something.
I’m not sure. But they never accepted me,” I explain.
“But you? You claimed me the moment we met, and I don’t think you’ll ever know how much that means to me.
” She pulls me into a hug, and I’m starting not to mind the physical connection she always craves.
“Look at you getting all soft on me after a few drinks.” I chuckle, “Now I know how to make you pour your heart out to me. I’ll definitely be using that against you in the future,” she teases.
“In all seriousness, I’m grateful for you, too, Vix.
I know I can be a lot sometimes, but you’ve never once brushed me off or looked at me like I’m too much, and that means more to me than anything,” she says, so much emotion in her voice.
“I had a feeling we would click when we met, and I wasn’t wrong.
This year is going to be fucking amazing,” she says, and I nod in agreement.
Austin and Kash walk up to the table with multiple rounds of shots on a tray.
“Holy shit,” Leah says. My eyes are wide, taking in the amount of liquor they’ve brought to our table.
“Truth or dare time,” Kash says, a devilish smile on his lips.